26/11: Then and now

TAJ PALACE: The 26/11 attackers targeted this iconic building perhaps because it's majestic red dome rising proudly against the skyline symbolises the Maximum City in all its glory.

The 105-year-old hotel that has hosted the who's who of the world, was ravaged by terrorists who walked into the heritage building on November 26, 2008. They kept the guests and staff hostage for over 60 hours as the world watched in horror.

The attack severely damaged the heritage wing of the hotel with the fifth and the sixth floor bearing the brunt along with the famous dome that was gutted. A year on, the heritage site is still being restored to its former glory.

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THE STAIRCASE: The winding staircase and its wood work that adds to the old world charm of the heritage hotel, bore the brunt of the mayhem. The terrorists, looking for strategic positions within the hotel, sprayed bullets and threw hand grenades on guests and staff from the staircase and its landings. It was from here that the perched terrorists played their cat and mouse game with the NSG commandos.

The staircase after surviving the most brutal assault is back to its old grandeur.

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SPLENDID INTERIORS: Half-burnt Burma teak tables, broken glassware, bottles and furniture littered the elegant rooms and restaurants. The walls were peppered with bullet and shrapnel from grenades - the product of a prolonged gunbattle between commandos and the terrorists as they tracked each other, laid ambushes and dodged one another in a macabre death dance. A year later, the magnificent interiors have got back their splendour.

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SWIMMING POOL: Two of the terrorists had entered through the north gate of the hotel.

The swimming pool was the first place where they indiscriminately fired at guests and hotel staff near the pool and its surrounding areas.

Within a moment the area resembled a warzone with dead bodies lining the pool area and the wounded crying out for help. The majestic pool and its surroundings betray no sign of the scars it bore on the night of the carnage.

<P><STRONG>TAJ PALACE:</STRONG> The 26/11 attackers targeted this iconic building perhaps because it's majestic red dome rising proudly against the skyline symbolises the Maximum City in all its glory.<BR><BR>The 105-year-old hotel that has hosted the who's who of the world, was ravaged by terrorists who walked into the heritage building on November 26, 2008. They kept the guests and staff hostage for over 60 hours as the world watched in horror.<BR><BR>The attack severely damaged the heritage wing of the hotel with the fifth and the sixth floor bearing the brunt along with the famous dome that was gutted. A year on, the heritage site is still being restored to its former glory.<BR></P>

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<P><STRONG>THE STAIRCASE:</STRONG> The winding staircase and its wood work that adds to the old world charm of the heritage hotel, bore the brunt of the mayhem. The terrorists, looking for strategic positions within the hotel, sprayed bullets and threw hand grenades on guests and staff from the staircase and its landings. It was from here that the perched terrorists played their cat and mouse game with the NSG commandos.<BR><BR>The staircase after surviving the most brutal assault is back to its old grandeur.</P>

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<STRONG>SPLENDID INTERIORS:</STRONG> Half-burnt Burma teak tables, broken glassware, bottles and furniture littered the elegant rooms and restaurants. The walls were peppered with bullet and shrapnel from grenades - the product of a prolonged gunbattle between commandos and the terrorists as they tracked each other, laid ambushes and dodged one another in a macabre death dance. A year later, the magnificent interiors have got back their splendour.

Syndication:

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Caption:

<P><STRONG>SWIMMING POOL:</STRONG> Two of the terrorists had entered through the north gate of the hotel.<BR><BR>The swimming pool was the first place where they indiscriminately fired at guests and hotel staff near the pool and its surrounding areas.<BR><BR>Within a moment the area resembled a warzone with dead bodies lining the pool area and the wounded crying out for help. The majestic pool and its surroundings betray no sign of the scars it bore on the night of the carnage.<BR></P>